Issue Position: Second Amendment

Issue Position

I am a firm supporter of Second Amendment rights, and I have taken action in Congress to protect northern and central New Yorkers from any infringement on their right to bear arms. I support legislation to establish a national standard for the carrying of concealed firearms, to reform the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and to ensure that gun owner rights are protected in bankruptcy proceedings.

Firearm ownership for self-defense and hunting is a part of the heritage of Upstate New York and the federal government should not pass heavy handed new laws that impact law abiding Americans while failing to address the problem of criminals' access to guns. I recently joined 250 of my colleagues is signing a brief to the Supreme Court in favor of striking down an unconstitutional ban on handguns, and I will continue to support lawful gun owners while seeking effective ways to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.